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Skype for Business Blog
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Skype for Business on Mac is now Generally Available!

Laurie Pottmeyer's avatar
Oct 27, 2016

On October 27, 2016, Microsoft made the all new Skype for Business on Mac client generally available for download.  With this client now available, The Skype team has provided modern clients on all the most popular platforms natively or supported via VDI.  Support for the latest codecs such as H.264 for video and Silk for Audio have completely modernized the client.   

 

This release brings new communication and collaboration experiences that are intuitive yet powerful.  A clean information layout creates a modern look and feel.  Great visuals such as edge to edge video with full immersive content sharing and viewing create great meetings. The client features integration with Outlook for meeting scheduling and one-click joins. The result is a great Skype for Business experience that is 1st class experience for Mac users.  You can read more about this release on the Skype for Business blog.

 

 

 

Review these additional resources:

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the minimum client-side requirements for Skype for Business on Mac?

The SfB on Mac client requires El Capitan or newer to run. Older versions of the Mac OS are not supported. For Outlook Integration functionality, Outlook 2016 for Mac is required.

 

What are the requirements for server-side support for the new Mac client?

Office 365 is fully supported. Skype for Business Server 2015 and Lync Server 2013 are also supported. For full E-911 and Mobility Policy support, Microsoft requires Skype for Business Server 2015 CU4 (coming soon) or Lync Server 2013 CU8 (coming soon). Lync Server 2010 is not supported – we recommend customers to upgrade to Office 365 or Skype for Business Server 2015 with the latest cumulative updates referenced above.

 

Has the Skype Operations Framework been updated to reflect the SfB Mac client?

Yes! We have updated the Skype Operations Framework to help customers Plan, Deliver and Operate the new Mac client.  Find out more on what has been updated on SOF by clicking here.

 

Is there training available for customers/partners?

Yes! We have added new trainings to help educate our customers and partners on the new SfB Mac client.  Find the trainings on the Skype Academy page here.

 

What is Microsoft’s plan for post GA?

We have adopted a modern software development model where we will regularly introduce new value and continuous product improvements based on customer feedback post GA.

 

Do we have a plan for Windows parity?

We strive for Windows client parity in high value scenarios.  At Mac client GA, we've delivered comparative functionalities with the Windows client in mainstream scenarios but with drastically improved user experience and quality. 

 

Status of the Lync for Mac 2011 Client?

We do not support running both client side-by-side. We will not be uninstalling the client via our installer for SfB Mac - We recommend that you uninstall the older client. For Lync 2010 customers who do not plan to upgrade their servers, we recommend using the Lync for Mac 2011 client.

 

We do not want to turn on mobile client support to use the Mac client. Recommendations?

That has been updated – Office 365 customers have a policy that enables Mac usage without turning on mobile client support. For on-premises customers, please apply Skype for Business Server 2015 CU4 (coming soon). or Lync Server 2013 CU8 or higher (coming soon).

 

How will the Skype for Business on Mac client be licensed to customers?

Licensing is required. Skype for Business on Mac is licensed with commercial Office for Mac. This means that customers with an Office for Mac license that includes commercial use rights may download and use the Skype for Business on Mac client. Office packages that include the Office for Mac and commercial use rights includes Office 365 ProPlus, Office 365 E3, Office 365 E5, Office 365 Business, Office 365 Business Premium, Office Home and Business for Mac, and Office Standard for Mac. In addition, customers with licenses for Office 365 E1 or Office 365 Business Essentials without an Office version with commercial use rights may download and use Skype for Business on Mac only against the online service.

 

How will we distribute the client?

Initially we will make available on the download center.

 

What if I participated in the TAP or Preview Program?

If you were in the TAP or Preview program and you choose to download the full GA installer from the Download center without opting out of TAP or Preview the MAU update service will move you back to the TAP or Preview program.  the current TAP and Preview builds are the same as the GA installer on the Download center (but with different build numbers) so they're current whether on TAP, Preview, or GA.  If you want to stay in the TAP or Preview program, you should should *not* download GA bits from the Download center.  Conversely if you want to opt out of the TAP or Preview program you should opt out and then go back to the GA build on the DLC.  Opting out of TAP or Preview will stop MAU from moving you back to the earlier build.

 

 

We'd love to hear about your experience.  Please comment here or share your experience in either the Skype for Business IT Discussion Space or the Skype for Business User Discussion Space.

 

Updated Oct 27, 2016
Version 4.0
  • Hi Laurie

     

    So far the new client is a big improvement over the old one for us. We still cannot convince our Mac users to move from Webex to Skype, though, because critical features are still missing. In our case thw two most critical ones are

    1. Ability to record
    2. Ability to share a single application instead of the whole desktop

    The first feature is often used in workshops and customer calls for different purposes and the second one is a security issue. We don't want to risk sharing information unintentionally when we need to show customers and partners something in our software.

    Both features work very well in the Windows client and we expected these features to be part of the "feature parity with Windows client" baseline you mentioned.

  • Deleted - We are so glad you are liking the new Mac client.  Lots of work has gone into it and the team is hard at work with subsequent versions we can't wait to have you try.  Your feedback is valuable.  Please make sure you enter your specific asks at www.skypefeedback.com so we are sure we track it along with the list of prioritized features.  Hearing from customers like you is how we are able to understand what features to include, when.  Keep the comments coming!  I'll ask Paul Cannon to share any updates to the specific features you requested if he might have one. 

  • Laurie Pottmeyer Thank you for the link to the feedback page. I can see that the two missing features I mention are no 1 and no 3 most voted features and are listed as Planned. So hopefully they will be added soon.

  • Laurie, how do we opt out of the Preview for Mac Client, so we don't get downgraded by MAU?  skypepreview.com no longer lists the Mac Client as a preview product. 

  • Thank you Dale Christian for the question...and to Chermaine Li for the answer:

     

    You can go to the Microsoft Auto Update prompt and de-select the checkbox to Join Office Insider program: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3136076.


    Q. How does a user opt out of the Insider program?

    A: The first step is to clear the Insider check box. However, this affects only future build update notifications and does not revert the software that’s currently installed. For Office Insider Slow, since the non-Production build is run only for approximately seven (7) days each month before upgrading to the Production build, it’s likely that users will already be running the same build as the Production channel. However, if users have recently installed an Office Insider Slow build and have to revert to the earlier Production release, they will have to remove the build and download and install an older update. For Office Insider Fast, it may take over a month to receive the next Production release due to being one version ahead of Office Insider Slow and Production during a given month. Thus, users will have to remove the build and download and install an older update. MacAdmins is a good resource for finding older releases.